miaowang123: he game and moving forward.

he game and moving forward.

7 Nov 2019 at 21:58

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City is having no problem adjusting to the occasional game without All-Start Russell Westbrook. USA Soccer Store . The Thunder cruised to a 95-73 win over struggling Utah on Sunday night while their star point guard took the night off to rest his surgically repaired right knee. They did so behind 19 points from Kevin Durant, as well as a 17-point, 11-rebound effort from Serge Ibaka -- stretching their lead to as many as 37 points in the third quarter before finishing the game out with reserves. "We just wanted to play our game," Durant said. "No matter whos on the floor, we want to execute a game plan on both ends. "... Of course, we would love to have Russell out, but everybody stepped up." Durant sat out the fourth quarter for Oklahoma City (9-3), which won its fifth straight overall and sixth straight at home to open the season, its best opening stretch since moving from Seattle. Westbrook missed his first action since sitting for the seasons opening two games while recovering from the second of two off-season knee surgeries. Hes expected back when the Thunder host Western Conference leader San Antonio on Wednesday. Utah (1-14), which has lost six straight games, was led by 10 points apiece from Enes Kanter and Rudy Gobert. The Jazz looked for a spark in the lineup by starting former Michigan standout Trey Burke, the ninth overall pick in the June draft. Burke, playing in his third game since returning from surgery on his right index finger, struggled throughout -- finishing with four points on 2-of-9 shooting. Utah needed a 30-point fourth quarter to avoid its lowest point total of the season. As it was, the Jazz equaled their worst output of the season, and they nearly equaled their previous worst loss of 24 points -- which has happened twice this season. Utah, which shot just 39.4 per cent (28 of 71), is winless on the road at 0-9. Its the only Western Conference team without a road win, and the start is the worst on the road for the Jazz since opening the 1979-80 season 0-11 away from home. "Were trying to build who we are in this league with this group of guys, and weve got to have more of a sense of urgency to start a game, especially against a team thats this good," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. The game was third straight at home for Oklahoma City, which is in the middle of six-game home stand. Playing the Jazz provided the perfect opportunity for Thunder coach Scott Brooks to give Westbrook five straight nights off. The Thunder took a 75-38 lead late in the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Thabo Sefolosha, who finished with nine points, and they led 47-30 at halftime. "Our philosophy is like everybody else; we want to make teams take tough shots, and I thought we did that tonight," Brooks said. Reggie Jackson -- starting in place of Westbrook -- finished with 10 points. Jeremy Lamb added 15 points and Perry Jones had 13 off the Oklahoma City bench, which finished with a combined 36 points. "We trust them, we believe in them, and they believe in themselves," Sefolosha said. "Theyre playing extremely well, theyre improving, working really hard, all of them on their game and it shows." Oklahoma City struggled in the early going without Westbrook, hitting just one of its first eight shots. The cold shooting was short lived for the NBAs sixth-highest scoring team, which entered the game averaging 104.3 points per game. Even without their All-Star point guard, the Thunder hit 17 of their next 29 shots and finished the first half 18 of 37 (48.6 per cent) from the field. They led by as many as 20 points in the half, taking a 47-27 lead after back-to-back baskets by Ibaka, and the Jazz -- 29th in the league in scoring -- offered little resistance. Utah shot just 33.3 per cent (13 of 39) in the first half. "When youre not scoring, it puts a lot of pressure on your defence to stop a team to keep the game close," Jazz forward Marvin Williams said. "Unfortunately for us, the team we had to stop was Oklahoma City. Thats how a game can kind of get away from you pretty quickly." NOTES: The streak of Oklahoma City fans hitting halftime shots for $20,000 ended at two after a fan air-balled his second-quarter attempt. ... Thunder fans have hit five half-court shots during the 2013 calendar year ... Oklahoma City was 34-7 at home last season. USA Soccer Jerseys China . Felton was in court as the Manhattan district attorneys office outlined the agreement, which would resolve a gun case that arose amid the breakup of his marriage. Hes expected to admit June 30 to at least one charge, attempted criminal possession of a weapon -- he wont have to come to court to do so -- and get a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service. USA Soccer Gear . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar ;DeRozan. CLEVELAND -- Josh McDaniels second chance as an NFL head coach wont be with the Browns. McDaniels, labeled a favourite to take over in Cleveland, removed himself from consideration for the Browns opening Wednesday, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. McDaniels pulled his name after learning he was not the front-runner for the job, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. ESPN first reported McDaniels withdrawal. McDaniels interviewed with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner last weekend, when the Patriots had a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. McDaniels, fired as Denvers coach in 2010 after 28 games, confirmed he met with the Browns but did not elaborate on the interview and said "Im fortunate to have the job I have and I love being here. I love doing what Im doing." NFL rules prohibited the Browns from offering their job to McDaniels, a Canton, Ohio, native -- or any other coach in the playoffs -- until their respective season ends. As McDaniels was removed from their list, the Browns interviewed Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo, a person familiar with the meeting told the AP. McAdoo, who emerged as a surprise candidate in recent days, met with Browns officials Wednesday in Green Bay, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not publicizing information about the search. The 36-year-old McAdoo spent the past two seasons working with star QB Aaron Rodgers. The Browns search is in its second week after Haslam and Banner fired first-year coach Rob Chudzinski following a 4-12 season. McAdoo received strong endorsements form Rodgers and Packers coach Mike McCarthy. Although McAdoos resume isnt lengthy, its extensive enough to entice the Browns, and Rodgers said his position coach is a deserving candidate. "You cant help but respect Ben thee more time you spend with him, because he really cares about his job," Rodgers said on a weekly radio appearance in Milwaukee. Stitched USA Soccer Jerseys. "He listens when you talk, he asks good questions. Im happy for Ben. Any opportunities he gets he deserves. Hes a guy that works extremely hard. Hes a guy who really puts the time in." McCarthy, too, believes McAdoo is qualified to move up the coaching ranks. "Hes prepared himself for opportunities potentially that are out there," McCarthy said. "I think the world of Ben, Ive been with Ben a long time, and seen him diligently prepare himself to move forward. So whatever opportunities that do come by, hell do a phenomenal job." Looking "to get it right" as they seek the franchises seventh full-time coach in 15 years, Haslam and Banner have also interviewed Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn and Arizona defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles. Like McDaniels, Quinn met with the Browns while the Seahawks were off, and the 43-year-old relished the chance to discuss his football vision. Hes also a candidate in Minnesota and Tennessee. "It was an experience to go through something and I was fired up to do," he said. "It was nice it happened during a time that we were down. I was more fired up to have that chance, but now its back to it and getting a chance to talking about the game and moving forward. It was a good experience but were ready to rock here moving forward." Seattle hosts New Orleans on Saturday. Cleveland requested permission to interview Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, but he declined until the Broncos season is finished. Denver hosts San Diego on Sunday. The Browns are also reportedly interested in speaking with Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and Vanderbilt coach James Franklin, who has revived the Commodores and led them to consecutive nine-win seasons. ' ' '



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